Page 73 of The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
“I know,” Jonah said, his voice muffled as he buried his face against Bastien’s shoulder.
“When did you last shower?” Jonah paused as he thought about it, and Bastien groaned and pushed him away. “If you have to think about it that long, Jonah, it’s time for a fucking bath.”
“I know, I know,” Jonah said, and he led the way to the kitchen. “But I didn’t know you were coming until about ten minutes ago or I would have made myself pretty for you.”
“You still look pretty,” Bastien conceded. “And I can deal with your stench. I’ve really missed you.” Bastien leaned against the countertop as he watched Jonah fill up the kettle. “How are you? Or is that a stupid question?”
“You know what, I’m actually okay? I think it’s sunk in now that he’s gone. I helped mum sort his stuff at the nursing home, and I brought some of his records back with me. I think it’s just going to be a case of making sure Mum is okay now.”
“Is she still drinking?” Bastien asked, trying to keep his voice light, but Jonah could see the concern in the way he twisted his mouth.
“My aunt is keeping an eye on her. Obviously, she can’t be watched all the time, but I think she’s doing okay, considering.”
“And you’re really doing okay?”
Jonah got two mugs from the cupboard and shrugged. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
“You’ll be back to work soon?”
“Why? Has Colbie sent you to get information out of me?”
Bastien made an unimpressed huffing noise and shook his head. “She’s barely spoken to me in weeks, the cow. Who knew she would be so bitter about me leaving?”
Jonah scooped out two spoonfuls of sugar into Bastien’s mug. “You didn’t tell me you told her. She didn’t take it well?”
“She’s recast me already,” Bastien said with a laugh. “I thought you of all people would know that.”
“Why would I know that? You think Colbie shares anything important with me? I think she wants me to vanish into the ether so she doesn’t have to think about me ever again.”
Bastien scowled and grabbed the cup then tipped the sugar back into the sugar jar. “No. I’m on a strict wedding diet. Don’t make me fat, Jonah.”
“But you always have sugar in your tea.”
“And I’m cutting down. Omari told me the other day I was looking saggy.” He ran his hands down his sides to his hips to emphasize his physique. “Gotta keep all toned for my husband to be.”
“Oh, he would love you no matter what,” Jonah said and heaped three spoons of sugar into his own cup for good measure. “And you’re not saggy. Ignore Omari.”
“It’s hard to ignore Omari, though, isn’t it? And I didn’t think Colbie would tell you about the person taking over my role, I thought Dexter would.”
“Why?”
Bastien frowned, his brows furrowing as he looked at Jonah like he’d just said the most stupid thing in the world. “Because he’s going to be Patroclus after I leave? I mean, it makes sense, it’s a bigger role than Hector. And he came to talk to me about it first, which was sweet, and I said of course it’s okay, because I’m gonna be in New York living my best married-man life.”
“I thought Dexter was taking over Achilles?”
“You’re Achilles,” Bastien said slowly, as if someone had knocked Jonah over the head and he was now giving him all his life information. “Why would he be taking over your role? Are you leaving?”
“Wait. Is that official? He’s going to be Patroclus?”
“Yeah, he said Colbie had been in touch with his agent. I think they signed contracts a couple of weeks ago. Why is that a problem? Surely, getting to make out with your boyfriend every night isn’t a bad thing?”
“He’s not... We broke up.”
Bastien’s expression changed from trepid concern to annoyance. “Nope.” He shook his head. “I’ve had Sherrie wailing down the phone at me about breaking up with Romana. I’m not having the same shit withyou. No. I’m not having all that back-and-forth between the two of you for months, which nearly broke me, by the way, just for it to end so quickly. Nope. No way. What’s the problem and how do I fix it?”
“Oh God, I think I’m gonna throw up.” Dexter hadn’t gone behind his back. He hadn’t tried taking Achilles. He was leaving behind Hector, sure, but taking on Patroclus, a role he played so perfectly back when Bastien was ill all those months ago. Patroclus. Not Achilles. And Jonah accused him, he shouted at him and told him he didn’t trust him over his own Goddamned insecurities.
“Don’t you dare throw up on me,” Bastien said, backing away while pointing at the sink. “In the sink, babe, in the sink.”
